All Your Stretching Questions, Answered By A Recovery Expert

You give it your all during your workout. Why not give the same effort to stretching?

Gympass chatted with Keren Day, a doctor of chiropractic and co-founder of Racked Stretch, a stretching service in New York. Racked focuses on dynamic stretching (we’ll get to that in a minute) and tailors its “Stretch Menu” to different activities like running and cycling. The Racked mission is to keep people from neglecting their stretches while juggling their busy schedules.

“This usually happens because we only have so much time, so if we have to choose between the workout or the stretch, we usually pick the workout,” Day said.

We asked Day some common questions about stretching. Here’s what she had to say:

What’s the difference between a static stretch and a dynamic stretch?

Static stretching is what many of us do on our own before or after a workout where we stay in one position and hold that stretch for a certain amount of time. Dynamic stretching is when you stretch a muscle through a range of motion.

What should my pre-workout stretching routine look like?

Day’s go-to tip for a pre-workout stretch is to warm up the body with a quick walk or a light jog and then use a roller stick. A stretch at Racked can help you prepare for your Gympass class, but if that’s not available, Day said a dynamic stretch with a stretch rope is also helpful.

“This helps promote blood flow and create more agility so your body is ready to work and perform at its peak level,” Day said.

Racked focuses on dynamic stretching, or stretching through a range of motion.

What should I avoid when stretching?

Be mindful of holding a stretch for too long, an issue Day said she often sees in her chiropractic practice. This is why Racked focuses on dynamic stretching rather than static.

“[At Racked,] we don’t give the body enough time to feel ‘pain’ while stretching,” Day said. “Pain will signal the sympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the ‘fight or flight’ reflex. The body will feel attacked and start to resist, causing the muscles to contract.”

This can pull on the tendons and ligaments and contribute to tendonitis — so next time you start stretching after a sweaty workout, take note of how long you’re holding it.

Do I really need to stretch after my workout?

The simple answer? Yes. Day pointed out that stretching post-workout is generally easier since you are already warmed up and in stretch-friendly clothing.

She did point out, though, that stretching later in the day or week can be just as effective when done correctly, especially since stretching not only aids in post-workout recovery, it can help with proper sleep, posture and more. The key is to make stretching just another part of your fitness routine.

“It’s important to focus on recovery in general because it will help increase performance and keep you doing the things you love for longer,” Day said.

From the first second of your warm-up to your last cooldown stretch, Gympass is there to help you reach your fitness goals. If your company offers Gympass, start your 7-day free trial to check out gyms and studios near you.